Berkley · Fishing Tackle & Gear
Berkley Trilene Big Game 1/4 lb. Fishing Line
Skip. Fishing line coating composition undisclosed.
Berkley doesn't disclose PFAS or coating chemistry for this nylon monofilament fishing line. Water-resistant fishing lines commonly use Teflon-family coating treatments, but Berkley provides no transparency.
The better-graded swap
Ugly Stik
Ugly Stik Bigwater Pursuit IV Spinning Combo
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon monofilament with undisclosed water-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Berkley Trilene Big Game lb. Fishing Line is made of, ingredients and materials
Berkley Trilene Big Game is nylon monofilament, a synthetic polymer extruded into a single strand. The "water-resistant coating" mentioned on packaging is not chemically detailed by the manufacturer, which is standard industry practice for competitive reasons. Nylon itself is chemically stable during normal fishing use and does not leach into water or fish under typical conditions. The undisclosed coating raises the primary concern about potential water-resistant additives, which in fishing line context often includes wax or silicone, but PFAS cannot be confirmed without testing.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Undisclosed water-resistant coating composition
Berkley does not publish the chemical identity of the coating used on Trilene Big Game. Water-resistant additives in fishing line historically include wax, silicone, or Teflon-family coating; without disclosure, the presence of PFAS or other persistent additives cannot be ruled out.
Nylon degradation and microparticle release
Nylon monofilament gradually breaks down under UV and mechanical stress, potentially shedding micro-fibers. While consumer exposure is minimal during normal handling and use, environmental persistence of these particles is documented and recognized as a microplastics concern.
What’s reassuring
Skin sensitization or contact dermatitis
No reported cases or recalls of allergic contact dermatitis specific to Berkley Trilene monofilament. Nylon is generally inert; risk would arise only if additives (dyes, lubricants, or biocides) trigger individual sensitivity, which is not a documented pattern for this product.
Heavy metals
Berkley Trilene is available in multiple colors, but no public reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in the dyes used. Fishing line dyes are typically organic azo or synthetic dyes; no specific testing data is available for this product.
Source, FDA ↗Off-gassing or odor from spool packaging
Nylon monofilament spools are not known to emit volatile organic compounds during storage or use. No consumer complaints or product testing has flagged VOC emissions from Berkley Trilene packaging or the line itself.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, a Newell Brands subsidiary) does not publicly commit to PFAS-free formulations or provide detailed chemical disclosure for fishing line coatings. The company has not faced widely reported recalls or safety actions specific to monofilament composition. Standard industry opacity applies, fishing line manufacturers rarely disclose water-resistant additive chemistry due to proprietary formulations. No third-party certifications (such as eco-labels or hazard certifications) are associated with this product line.
How it compares in its category
Monofilament fishing line presents lower chemical risk than many consumer products because it has minimal skin or ingestion contact and is not heated or worn. Most major brands (Berkley, Spiderwire, Suffix) use similarly opaque disclosure practices for coatings. Braided lines and fluorocarbon alternatives exist but do not substantially reduce coating-composition uncertainty. The real differentiation in safety terms lies in end-of-life environmental persistence, where nylon monofilament is particularly problematic as wildlife hazard, not consumer chemical hazard.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, as UV exposure degrades nylon and may accelerate any coating breakdown. Wash hands after handling if you have sensitive skin, though allergic reactions to nylon monofilament are rare. Replace the line annually or after visible fraying, discoloration, or loss of suppleness, as degraded line can shed particles. Dispose of spent line responsibly in trash, never in water, since monofilament entangles wildlife and persists for years.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Berkley has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Berkley Trilene Big Game 1/4 lb. Fishing Line?
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- Plastic body, tinned steel hook
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- Microplastic generation from wear
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding on degradation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More fishing tackle & gear grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.